Elaine Pearson

Elaine Pearson, Australia Director at Human Rights Watch works to encourage the Australian government to prioritize human rights as part of its foreign policy. Based in Sydney, Pearson works to build Human Rights Watch's profile in Australia and regularly briefs journalists and policy makers. Pearson writes frequently for numerous publications, and her articles have appeared in the Guardian, the Wall Street Journal, the Australian, and Human Rights Quarterly. From 2007 to 2012 she was the Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division based in New York.

Prior to joining Human Rights Watch, Pearson worked for the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations in Asia and London. She has specialized expertise in human trafficking and migration. Pearson holds degrees in law and arts from Australia's Murdoch University and obtained her Master's degree in public policy at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

Last week, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that Julie Bishop will remain as Australia’s foreign minister and that Frances Adamson, an experienced diplomat, will start a five-year stint as the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Boeng kak community activists call for the release of workers of Cambodian human rights NGO ADHOC (Photo: Getty Images)
Adamson takes over the department as the world faces tumultuous times.

On 3 March, Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said, 'We must use the celebration of International Women's Day to highlight the plight of women still fighting for freedom and equality, for when that is achieved it will be for the betterment of us all.'
That fight is ongoing in the Asia-Pacific region.

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